A fascinating collection of essay on the modern world, ranging from pop culture to social mores.Lively and enlightening. Like having an engaging and intelligent (albeit one-sided) conversation with a smart, erudite person. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

This collection of essays delves into the interconnectedness of culture, examining how ideas shape the world we see today. With a wide range of topics, from myths and literary genres to the intersections of art, politics, and history, these essays offer unique insights and unexpected connections. From the origins of the unluckiest book ever made to the enduring appeal of utopia and Atlantis, these essays invite readers on a journey of discovery. Along the way, they'll encounter a range of intriguing topics, including the power dynamics of Amazon, the symbolism of mermaids in art, and the sex life of vampires. Whether you're interested in the roots of western civilization or simply looking for a fresh perspective, this book is sure to satisfy your intellectual curiosity.

The Life Fantastic: Myth, History, Pop and Folklore in the Making of Western Culture by Noa Menhaim is a collection of wide-ranging and diverse essays.

The Life Fantastic is an excellent book to dip into to find out fascinating facts and stories about places and people that you might not have heard. The side notes link different stories together and give a different perspective which you might not have thought of.

Great for Wikipedia browsers and the generally interested!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I like this book and it touches upon so many pop culture worlds that it would be better as an intro text for pop culture classes. It brushes the surface and teases you with questions and ideas to explore further, however, to obtain a deeper dive into one topic or another, the reader would need to consult other relevant works,

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good collection of essays. I enjoyed it a lot.

I like in the introduction and subsequent pages where the words on each page are highlighted and gives a tidbit box with page number off to the side. Yet, at the same time, it’s making my ADD go a little crazy, since it’s almost too much info and I’m not sure where to look.
I do like the tidbit about how cartographers tricked copyists from stealing their work.
It was interesting to read about things you’d heard about in the past but wasn’t sure about. I think this is a well written book with unusual facts and tidbits.

A collection of essays on Western Culture and our relationship with it - this isn't a book to be read all at once, but rather dipped into like a box of fascinating and illuminating treats. Well worth it

We did enjoy this book but it's not one you want to read all at once. It is more of a "dip into" read. We read each chapter mulled on each topic and we discussed them. Not too academic we found it easy to read with some interesting cultural topics.

I was intrigued by the dive into Western Culture through different essays, but I found this book hard to read. It seems almost stream of consciousness as they wander through the topics. There are nuggets of interesting ideas, but I can't recommend this.

12 Summer Non-Fiction Releases to Have on Your Radar📚🫶 If you are always looking for exciting upcoming releases to add to you TBR piles, here are 12 non-fiction summer releases you won’t want to miss being published in June, July and August.
The Life Fantastic: Myth, History, Pop and Folklore in the Making of Western Culture by Noa Menhaim

I was really excited to read this one, but I found it difficult to read. This was mostly because it felt very incohesive. I didn't see a main idea connecting the stories and even within the chapters, I didn't find a clear line of thought.